Page 123 of Crimson Love

“I love you.”

His arms tighten around me like a vise. “What did you say?”

I nod and feel the tears leaking from my eyes race down my cold skin. “I do. I know I’m difficult and come with enough baggage for a trip around the world. But I thought I lost you. From the time I climbed out of that truck until I saw you breathing with my own eyes, I thought I’d have to live in a world without you in it. So I can’t wait another moment. I’ve never loved anyone in my life. The feeling is foreign, and I didn’t recognize it until just now. But I love you, Jett.”

“Fuck.” The word blows visibly through the freezing air.

He lets go of me to frame my face with his warm hands and presses his lips to mine possessively. I taste every greedy and passionate vibe rolling off him, and it feeds the pure affection that’s been building in me with every moment we spend together.

When he breaks our kiss, he tips his forehead to mine, and I’m warmed by his deep, beautiful eyes that I pray our children get someday. “Lennon, I never wanted anyone in my life until I met you. There’s not a moment that the thought of you doesn’t consume me. I love you so fucking much it hurts.”

I laugh and cry at the same time. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You were worth the wait.”

His grip on my face tightens. “And you’re my reward. I’d do it all over again—the Army, the PKD—I’d do it all again to have you.”

I wrap my arms around him and hold on tight.

After everything we’ve been through, I’ve never felt so content.

Love must have a way of doing that to you.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

DREAMS

Lennon

I t’s been a week since my father came after me. He lived for two days in the hospital before his body stopped fighting. It’s weird how I convinced myself all those years he was dead. I mourned for him then.

Now that he’s actually dead, I don’t care. There’s no court or jury to try him for what he did to me and countless others. I will never again have to think about my father.

Andrei, on the other hand, has a court date back in Florida. Brax Cruz and King Jennings have built quite a case on him. The least of his worries these days are the jewels. They have been confiscated by the U.S. government. I was more than happy to hand them over.

I’ll have to travel back at some point to testify. I’ll happily go if it means he’ll spend the rest of his days rotting away in prison.

And on what was my last day off work after being poisoned, Devon extended my leave another week.

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t argue this time. My newfound family in Winslet have taken me under their wings, and I love every single one of them. This time around, I decided I could use a moment, or a week, to catch my breath.

When it was me at the center of danger, I had no problem getting back to work. But this wasn’t just me this time. This was Jett too.

He could have died protecting me from my father. Living through that hell is something I won’t get over for a long time, no matter how much Jett played it off.

I insisted that he take a trip back to the hospital to get checked out. He might’ve just been released an hour prior to going head-to-head with my father, but he’s supposed to ease back into life.

Warner is behind bars with no hope at parole. And the remaining board members have actually reached out to Jett and Harlow, extending an olive branch. They want to make sure everyone knows Lex was working on his own.

And my father is dead. I’ll never have to worry about him again.

Any and all threats against Jett and me are laid to rest—some more literally than others.

I told Jett that I’m putting my foot down. No more wrecks. No more wrestling for weapons. I don’t care what he did back in the day for the Army—he is not to test his healthy kidney again.

But the real transformation came the moment I heard that gunshot and had no idea what happened. I went from having anxiety thinking about the future to fantasizing what life could be like with Jett Parker Cross.

My future might as well be in technicolor. It’s so bright and beautiful, there are times I can’t take it. As much as I hate what we’ve been through, I’m grateful that it’s opened my eyes to what was sitting in front of me for the taking.

A life with Jett in Winslet.